It’s A Mess Out There

• Lots of “standards”

  • Paging: one- way, one- and- a- half- way, two- way
  • Cellular: analog, CDPD, digital
  • PCS: CDMA, TDMA, GSM
  • Packet: Mobitex, RD- LAP, spread spectrum
  • Trunked radio: iDEN
  • Satellite: Big/ Little LEOS, geostationary
  • LMDS - Local Multipoint Distribution Service

• Definitions are changing

  • 'Paging' (SMS) over digital cellular and PCS, and over (packet) BellSouth Wireless Data and American Mobile
  • Mobile communications is becoming a 'platform' for applications

• Changing definitions cause confusion, but create opportunities